How to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home VacantHow to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home Vacant

How to Secure All Entry Points Before Leaving Your Home Vacant — Everett, Washington

Complete checklist with climate-adjusted recommendations for Everett, Washington

Overview

Lock all windows and doors, set timers on lights, and alert neighbors or your property manager before an extended absence.

DIY FriendlyEasy~45 min

Step-by-Step Guide

Lock every door and deadbolt

Walk through the home and lock every exterior door including the front door, back door, side doors, garage entry door, and basement bulkhead. Engage deadbolts — a locked knob without a deadbolt can be defeated with a credit card. Verify the garage door is down and the wall button lock (if equipped) is engaged.

Secure all windows

Close and lock every window on every floor, including basement windows. For sliding windows and doors, place a wooden dowel or security bar in the track to prevent forced opening even if the lock is defeated. Verify window locks are engaged by attempting to push each window open.

Check secondary entry points

Secure pet doors (lock the flap or cover with a rigid panel), lock skylights that open, close and latch attic access hatches, and verify mail slots cannot be used to reach inside and unlock doors. Lock detached garage or shed doors.

Set lights on timers or smart plugs

Connect 2–3 interior lights to timers or smart plugs so they turn on and off at realistic intervals (for example, living room light from 6 PM to 10 PM, bedroom light from 9 PM to 11 PM). Vary the pattern across rooms. A dark home every night is an obvious signal that nobody is home.

Manage exterior appearance

Arrange for lawn mowing, snow removal, or leaf cleanup during your absence. Ask a neighbor or hire a service. Pause mail and package deliveries through USPS Hold Mail and suspend any regular delivery subscriptions. An overgrown yard or overflowing mailbox advertises vacancy.

Alert trusted neighbors and contacts

Tell 1–2 trusted neighbors your travel dates and leave a phone number where you can be reached. Give a spare key to someone you trust so they can check on the home. If you have a property manager, inform them and provide emergency instructions.

Activate or check your security system

If you have a security system, ensure it is armed in 'Away' mode. Test the system before leaving by triggering a sensor and confirming the monitoring company responds. Check that all camera batteries or Wi-Fi connections are working. If you do not have a system, consider a doorbell camera at minimum.

Remove or hide spare keys and valuables

Bring spare keys inside — do not leave them under mats, in fake rocks, or above door frames. Burglars know all the common hiding spots. Store important documents and small valuables in a home safe or take them with you. Close blinds or curtains on ground-floor windows so valuables are not visible from outside.

What You'll Need

Tools

- Light timers or smart plugs (2–3 units)
- Wooden dowels or security bars for sliding doors/windows

Materials

- Fresh batteries for security cameras and sensors
- Spare key for neighbor or property manager

Cost Estimates

DIY Cost

$20–$50 for timers and dowels

Professional Cost

$50–$150 for a locksmith visit; $20–$50/month for a basic monitoring service

Safety Tips

Never advertise your absence on social media until after you return.
Leave a vehicle in the driveway if possible, or ask a neighbor to park in your driveway occasionally.
Do not leave a voicemail greeting that says you are away. Keep your greeting generic.
If you return to find signs of forced entry, do not go inside — call 911 from outside the home.

When to Call a Professional

Call a locksmith if any locks are broken, sticky, or cannot be deadbolted. Call a security company to install or upgrade a monitored alarm system before extended travel. A property management company can do periodic walk-throughs for seasonal or vacation homes.

Pro Tip

A single smart home camera pointed at the front door gives you more peace of mind than any other security measure. Battery-powered doorbell cameras are easy to install, record motion events to the cloud, and let you see who approaches your door in real time from your phone.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Locking the front door but forgetting the garage side door, basement windows, or sliding patio door.
Leaving all lights off every night, which signals an empty home more effectively than anything else.
Posting vacation photos on social media while still away, essentially announcing the home is unoccupied.
Forgetting to hold mail delivery, resulting in an overflowing mailbox visible from the street.
Leaving a spare key in an obvious location like under the doormat or a fake rock near the door.

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Everett Housing Market

Median Home Price

$575,000

Homes for Sale

119

Price per Sq Ft

$402

Local Pros

507

Home Service Professionals Near Everett

lender 80Flooring 67multimedia_specialist 67Cleaners 61Landscapers 61Inspectors 60Roofers 57Plumbers 54

Median Household Income

$81,502

Median Home Value

$532,300

Median Rent

$1,675/mo

Homeownership Rate

50%

Population

111,083

Median Year Built

1980

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

Fair Market Rents — Everett

Studio

$2,074/mo

1 Bedroom

$2,146/mo

2 Bedroom

$2,501/mo

3 Bedroom

$3,272/mo

4 Bedroom

$3,847/mo

Source: HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents — Seattle-Bellevue, WA HUD Metro FMR Area

This Task Appears On

Vacation Home Seasonal Closing Checklist

Related How-To Guides

How to Create and Practice a Home Evacuation Plan

Identify two exits from every room, designate a meeting spot outside, and practice with your family at least twice per year.

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Turn off the water main, open all faucets to drain, flush toilets, and add RV antifreeze to traps. Essential before leaving a home unheated in winter.

How to Clean Out Your Refrigerator and Pantry Before Vacancy

Remove all perishables, deep-clean surfaces, and prop doors slightly open to prevent mold when leaving a home vacant.

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